Workers should come together and fight against their rights. Forming unions will serve their interests in terms of protecting them from self oriented employers. Speaking on Tuesday in his office, Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Uasin Gishu County Chairman, Peter Odima said workers should join unions basing on their profession for them to be assisted in case of a dispute.
“I have received many complains from workers that their rights to good working condition, leave, off days, overtime, proper salaries and right to proper housing are being denied to workers and yet they work round the clock” he said
The bill that is aimed at protecting watchmen and security guards is still parliament and will soon be passed. It aims to protect the rights of security guards from being violated through poor working conditions with no insurance and low wages.
“We will be moving round in supermarkets and houses to find out how workers are being handled and in case their rights are being denied their employer will be arrested with immediate effect and charged accordingly”he added.
He reiterated that every worker is entitled to joining any trade union that will facilitate fighting for their rights and any employer who thinks is above the law by denying pregnant women their right to leave that they will face the law and should be reported.
“Workers dealing with security are the most affected with infringement of their rights how can qualified security personnel be employed by class eight leaver who does the business for his own gain and not for the workers’ rights” he said
He urged workers to be vigilant and report any form of marginalization in their place of work and promised that his office is open and in case of any problem will be dealt with accordingly.